Iowa falls short on disaster funding. Communities wait years for help.

The Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management says it has more than 100 unmet requests for financial assistance from cities, counties, school districts and other eligible organizations. But it doesn't have the $144 million to pay
William Petroski/The Register

As Iowans reel from flooding and tornadoes this year, scores of communities are on waiting lists for government money to reduce damage and save lives when disasters strike.

The Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management says it has more than 100 unmet requests for financial assistance from cities, counties, school districts and other eligible organizations. But it doesn't have the $144 million to pay for all the disaster-related projects.

The projects are covered under a formula that is 75 percent federal money, 10 percent state funding, and a 15 percent local government share. The biggest barrier is a lack of federal money, say state officials.

A wide range of funding requests are on hold:

Des Moines is waiting for $18.4 million to buy and remove flood-prone properties.

Winneshiek County wants $38,000 for outdoor storm warning sirens.

Collins needs $1 million for a drainage project.

Iowa County hopes for $505,000 for a levee pump replacement.

Lake City seeks $40,000 for an emergency generator.

Parkersburg is requesting $365,000 for a tornado safe room.

Some requests were submitted more than four years ago. Many other Iowa communities have similar requests pending.

'The cost of doing nothing is not zero'

Parkersburg City Administrator Chris Luhring was the police chief in 2008 when a powerful EF5 tornado killed seven people in the northeast Iowa community of about 1,800. He said the city officials now want to construct a tornado safe room at a new soccer-baseball complex. It would help ease concerns of parents and grandparents attending ball games, as well as people living and working nearby, he said.

"People are only as safe as they feel psychologically," said Luhring, whose aunt died in the 2008 tornado. "You may be in a safe place, but if you don't feel safe you are not safe. To be honest with you, if you are a Parkersburg resident, you are looking for places to go in the event of severe weather. It is just a subconscious awareness that storm victims have that they never really get rid of."

The need for additional disaster-related funding is likely to increase. The University of Iowa's Flood Center estimates that fixing Iowa's flood problems, while also addressing water quality issues, will cost billions of dollars in the coming decades. Flooding has already taken a heavy toll on Iowa, resulting in nearly $18 billion in estimated damage over three decades, university researchers say.

University of Iowa research engineer Antonio Arenas, co-author of a report that examined Iowa flooding, said some Iowa communities may be hesitant to increase funding for flood-control projects. He said, however, they should consider the losses from damage already sustained and the potential benefits of avoiding future losses.

Iowa ranks fourth nationally in the number of floods since 1998, University of Iowa research shows. State officials say people shouldn't be surprised at the frequency of natural disasters here because Iowa has lots of communities located on streams and rivers and it's on the north end of a region from Iowa to Texas known as Tornado Alley.

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The Marshall County Courthouse in Marshalltown suffered extensive damage when it was hit by a tornado July 19, 2018. WARNING: This video contains language some might find offensive.
@tfinders34, @b_hernandez21s/Special to the Register

More spending on disasters, but it's not enough

The shortfalls in government funding are happening despite significant state, local and federal spending for disaster-related projects.

Records provided by the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management show that nearly $2.4 billion has been spent in Iowa communities since 2008 on disaster recovery, prevention and other work. That includes more than $1.9 billion in federal money, $249 million in state funds and $211 million from local governments.

Additionally, the state has received $2.4 billion in federal payments for agricultural crop damages and other government funds for individual disaster assistance grants and small-business assistance.

Government money has been used to repair public buildings, roads and bridges; to buy out homes and businesses repeatedly hit by flooding; to harden rural electric distribution systems against severe storms; to construct tornado shelters in schools and community centers; and for many other projects to recover from disasters and reduce the potential for future damage.

"We have done a lot in the past 25 years," since widespread flooding struck Iowa in 1993, said John Benson, legislative liaison for the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. "We are starting to see a payoff right now in terms of flooding. Structures aren't there any more that used to be habitually flooded and it is limiting the impact to homes and it is limiting the impact to the overall economy of the state as well."

State Sen. Robert Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, who serves on the Iowa Flood Mitigation Board, worries that while positive steps are being taken to combat flooding, Iowa's efforts are still inadequate because of an increase in heavy rainfall events.

Hogg said money being spent now will help mitigate damage, but it's not enough.

"We really have a monumental challenge in front of us, which is that the weather of tomorrow is going to be different from the weather of the past because of climate change," Hogg said.

A view from the air of the Iowa State Center on the Iowa State University campus in Ames on Wednesday, July 7, 2018. As much as 14 feet of water filled Hilton Coliseum, right. University officials estimated campus damage at $7.7 million. Bob Nandell / Register file photo

Ron Crees, 23, and Todd Harang, 20, both of Des Moines, work with thousands of volunteers Saturday, July 10, 1993 — including the Iowa National Guard. They stand on railroad tracks east of 63rd Street. Teresa Hurteau / Register file photo

It didn't rain Sunday, July 11, 1993, but it was still much too wet to play anything but water polo at Sec Taylor Stadium in Des Moines. And judging by the fact that the Des Moines River is playing left, right and centerfield, the park probably won't be fit for the Iowa Cubs for a while. Bob Nandell / Register file photo

Water from the Des Moines River flows over the Locust Street, left, and Grand Avenue bridges on Sunday, July 11, 1993. The former downtown YMCA can be seen above; Des Moines City Hall, below. The water forced the cancellation of the Ruan Greater Des Moines Grand Prix. "The water rose very quickly," Grand Prix spokesman Jan Shaffer said. Register file photo

A crowd faces a two-hour wait for water at the Hy-Vee store at 27th Street and Ingersoll Avenue on Monday, July 12, 1993, around noon. The jugs were being filled with a garden hose, bottom right. Doug Wells / Register file photo

Volunteers reinforce a sandbag levee near West Des Moines Waterworks on Tuesday, July 12, 1993. The levee was opened in one spot to allow a generator on a truck to be moved inside. Jeffrey Z. Carney / Register file photo

A row of portable toilets on the west steps of the Statehouse Wednesday, July 14, 1993, alleviates a shortage of portable toilets for state workers during Des Moines' water crisis. Bob Nandell / Register file photo

On Aug. 2, 1993, Chicago and Northwestern Railroad workers begin the laborious job of repairing sections of trackage washed out by the July 11 flooding in West Des Moines' Valley Junction area. First to get at the tracks, they have to remove the concrete highway barricades and the sandbags that made up the dike placed along the tracks. The flood worked under the roadbed and washed out the dike, and the tracks, in several spots, particularly near 13th Street and Railroad Avenue. Bob Nandell / Register file photo

Since then, the Des Moines area has built levees, added floodgates and removed flood-prone properties.

A.J. Mumm, Polk County's emergency management coordinator, said past efforts to eliminate homes from floodplains prevented $12.5 million in damage when flash flooding on June 30 struck central Iowa this year. The benefits were especially seen near Fourmile Creek.

The reality of it is that we are doing the best that we can with the resources that we have," Mumm said. "Mother Nature will always up the ante, and our philosophy is that we will do everything we can today so that it is better than yesterday.

Mumm said, however, Polk Country should prepare for more frequent, high-intensity storms. That means residents should buy flood insurance.

He said many people who sustained flash flood damage in June had water coming through basement windows or from other places. Some discovered that their regular homeowners' insurance would not cover the damage, Mumm said.

Presidential Donald Trump has approved requests by Gov. Kim Reynolds for federal disaster aid to counties across Iowa because of flooding, tornadoes and other severe weather this year.

Those presidential declarations could mean additional federal money will become available for disaster mitigation projects in Des Moines and other Iowa communities down the road — perhaps in about 12 to 18 months — but not immediately, Benson said.

A truck drives through flood waters at the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Holcomb Avenue outside of North High School after rain storms caused flooding through out the metro on Saturday, June 30, 2018. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Two men sit stranded in their cars, surrounded by flood water from Fourmile Creek on the bridge at the intersection of Hubbell Avenue and East 33rd Street on Des Moines' east side on Sunday morning, July 1, 2018 after heavy rain fell overnight. The creek crested at a record 17.47 feet around 6:00 A.M.. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Des Moines fire and rescue crews assist two men sit stranded in their cars, surrounded by flood water from Fourmile Creek on the bridge at the intersection of Hubbell Avenue and East 33rd Street on Des Moines' east side on Sunday morning, July 1, 2018 after heavy rain fell overnight. The creek crested at a record 17.47 feet around 6:00 A.M.. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Des Moines fire and rescue crews assist two men sit stranded in their cars, surrounded by flood water from Fourmile Creek on the bridge at the intersection of Hubbell Avenue and East 33rd Street on Des Moines' east side on Sunday morning, July 1, 2018 after heavy rain fell overnight. The creek crested at a record 17.47 feet around 6:00 A.M.. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds embraces Beverly Phillips, of Des Moines, outside her home while touring flood damaged areas of Polk County on Monday, July 2, 2018, on Des Moines's east side. Phillips' home was flooded by Fourmile Creek on Saturday. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Shane Rhoades returns to his home that exploded during the flash flood last night on Sunday, July 1, 2018, in Urbandale. Rhoades said he and his wife were overtaken by water while in their basement but were saved when a wall gave out and they were swept outside. Brian Powers/The Register

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds visits Beverly Phillips, of Des Moines, outside her home while touring flood damaged areas of Polk County on Monday, July 2, 2018, on Des Moines's east side. Phillips' home was flooded by Fourmile Creek on Saturday. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Water inundates the intersection of 56th Street and New York Avenue after a flash flooding event on Saturday, June 30, 2018, in Des Moines. Several cars were stuck in the flood water. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

A group of people stranded by flood water watch as it slowly recedes from the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Holcomb Avenue outside of North High School after rain storms caused flooding through out the metro on Saturday, June 30, 2018. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Steve Lucas of Waukee, right, helps sort through the wood he, brother Eric Bauer, left, and Bauer's son Austin, 7, center, tore out of their parents basement on Sunday, July 1, 2018, in Clive. They said there was about eight inches of water in the basement and everything needed to go. Brian Powers/The Register

Steve Lucas of Waukee, right, helps sort through the wood he, brother Eric Bauer, left, and Bauer's son Austin, 7, center, tore out of their parents basement on Sunday, July 1, 2018, in Clive. They said there was about eight inches of water in the basement and everything needed to go. Brian Powers/The Register

A car sits abandoned in flood water from Fourmile Creek near the intersection of Hubbell Avenue and East 33rd Street on Des Moines' east side on Sunday morning, July 1, 2018 after heavy rain fell overnight. The creek crested at a record 17.47 feet around 6:00 A.M.. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Shane Rhoades returns to his home that exploded during the flash flood last night on Sunday, July 1, 2018, in Urbandale. Rhoades said he and his wife were overtaken by water while in their basement but were saved when a wall gave out and they were swept outside. Brian Powers/The Register

Shane Rhoades returns to his home that exploded during the flash flood last night on Sunday, July 1, 2018, in Urbandale. Rhoades said he and his wife were overtaken by water while in their basement but were saved when a wall gave out and they were swept outside. Brian Powers/The Register

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-New Hartford, said Iowa's congressional delegation and state officials work to get Iowa's fair share of limited federal funds for flood mitigation through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and to ensure that Iowa priorities are included in supplemental spending bills following major disasters. He noted that in July, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that Cedar Rapids was awarded $117 million to complete a major flood mitigation project.

Moody's Investor Services issued a report Sept. 20 that rated Cedar Rapids' plan to issue debt to fund flood control projects along the Cedar River as "credit positive" because it will reduce the city's primary environmental risk and costs associated with potential future flooding. The 20-year, $750 million project was originally approved in 2015, Moody's said, but full funding wasn't in place until the city council recently approved a $342 million borrowing package.

Liz Bowman, an aide to U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Red Oak, said Congress is expected to focus on an infrastructure bill early in 2019, which could include federal block grants to states. This approach would combine much-needed federal funding for infrastructure projects with local and state control, she said.

But even Grassley's hometown of New Hartford, a Butler County community of 500 people, can't get everything it wants for flood protection.

New Hartford's has requests pending with state officials for a $200,000 flood mitigation project and a $150,000 drainage-improvement project.

New Hartford City Council member Gordon Ballhagen said since major flooding in 2008, the town has coupled state and federal aid with local funding to buy out flooded houses and construct flood infrastructure to provide protection from the Cedar River and Beaver Creek.

"We've done the worst part first," said Ballhagen, adding that the two proposed projects would further reduce the potential for flood damage in New Hartford.

"My goal is: No water in anybody's living room."

Candidates for governor speak to disaster issues

Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, says Iowa's first responders and emergency managers can always improve upon their work, but she is amazed at how well they perform.

"They have really done a very good job of communicating and collaborating to meet the needs of Iowans who are facing, or in the midst of disasters," Reynolds recently told Iowa Capitol reporters. "Volunteers show up and mutual aid shows up to help other communities as well. I want to tell you how much respect and admiration that I have for all these individuals."

Remi Yamamoto, a spokeswoman for Fred Hubbell, the Democratic nominee for governor, said weather extremes are putting many Iowans at risk, and their homes and businesses in danger.

"Through continued budget mismanagement, Gov. Reynolds has made the job of the state's emergency personnel harder, most recently with mid-year cuts to the Iowa Flood Center, Department of Homeland Security, floodplain management programs, and her continued refusal to fund the Iowa Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Fund that would help fund prevention efforts supported by a majority of Iowans," Yamamoto said.